Cable and window elevator system using such cable

ABSTRACT

A cable ( 11 ) is provided comprising a steel cord ( 12 ) and a polymer material ( 15 ). The steel cord ( 12 ) has a diameter less than 2.5 mm, and is coated with the polymer material ( 15 ). The cable ( 11 ) has a permanent elongation of less than 0.05% at a permanent force of 50 N, after being subjected to a force of 450 N. Further, a window elevator system ( 300 ) comprising such a cable ( 11 ) is provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cable, and the use of such cable in awindow elevator system, comprising such cable as part of itstransmission member and the use of such cable in control cableapplications, static or dynamic applications, e.g. hoisting, timingbelts, flat belts or V-belts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Window elevator systems as known in the art, comprise a window, clampingparts holding the window, guiding parts (fixed elements or small wheels)over which the cable is bend in order to guide the cable in a defineddirection, a driving drum and a transmission member. The transmissionmember transfers the rotating movement of the driving drum to thewindow. Usually, a known transmission member comprises a galvanizedsteel cable, which moves inside a casing. Such casing is usually a steelcasing, coated with a polymeric coating. Between the galvanized steelcable and the inner side of the steel casing, a polymer inner liner isplaced, being a polymer tube, fitting closely with the inner side of thesteel casing.

Galvanized steel cables, being part of such transmission member, have tomeet several requirements, such as a high corrosion resistance(simulated by means of the so-called “salt spray test”), a temperaturestability in the temperature range from −40° C. up to 90° C. or even upto higher temperatures for a short period of time, high tensile strengthand a good fatigue resistance. Requirements which are to be met in orderto provide systems which function during the whole life-time of thevehicle.

Further, the weight of the steel cord, and of the transmission member asa whole, is to be as low as possible. The cable of the transmissionmember is to be bend in curvatures having decreasing bending radii. Suchcurvatures are found at the guiding parts of the window elevator system,over which the cable is to be bend. These decreasing bending radiirequire cables with increased flexibility and fatigue resistance.Finally, the cable has to have a minimum of permanent elongation, afterbeing subjected to an elongating force. Too much permanent elongationleads to incorrect closing and opening of the windows, and a cable whichruns off the guiding parts of the system, since the cable looses itstensioning around these guiding parts.

Several attempts have been made to provide a solution to allabove-mentioned problems simultaneously, however with little result.

Cables used for control cable applications or other static or dynamicapplications have to have also limited permanent elongation and aresubjected to similar if not identical requirements.

Also in other applications, relatively small cables have to have a verylimited permanent elongation. E.g. cables used to open and close breaksof scooters, bicycles and other vehicles, preferably have no or verysmall permanent elongation. If the permanent elongation is too large,inadequate displacement of the connected elements of the breaks mayoccur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a cable is provided comprising apolymer coated steel cord, said cable having a permanent elongation ofless than 0.05% at a permanent force of 50 N, after being subjected to aforce of 450 N. Cables, as subject of the invention comprises a steelcord, which has an optical diameter of less than 2.5 mm. The opticaldiameter is the diameter of the smallest imaginary circle, whichencircles a radial cross section of the steel cord.

The polymer material and the degree of penetration of the polymermaterial between the steel elements of the cable, the thickness of thecoating and the construction of the steel cord may be chosen in such away that the cables meet the required properties in an optimal way.

Cables, as subject of the invention comprise a steel cord, whichpreferably has a relatively small optical diameter. The optical diameterof the cord is preferably less than 2.5 mm, more preferred less than 2.3mm or even less than 2 mm, most preferably less than 1.85 mm or evenless than 1.55 mm. The optical diameter is the diameter of the smallestimaginary circle which encircles a radial cross section of the steelcord.

The steel cord usually has a breaking load of less than 3150 N.

A cable as subject of the invention has a very limited permanentelongation at a load of 50 N after being loaded with a load of 450 N.Possibly, a permanent elongation may be obtained of less than 0.05%,even less than 0.04%, preferably however less than 0.03% or even lessthan 0.02%. Identical if not similar permanent elongation may even beobtained when the cable is subjected to a load causing tensile strengthsin the cord in the range up to 390 N/mm², or even up to 580 N/mm², oreven up to levels of 820 N/mm² or 1185 N/mm². The tensile strengths arecalculated using the steel surface in the radial cross-section of thecable.

A cable as subject of the invention comprises a steel cord, which on itsturn comprises several steel filaments.

The tensile strength of the steel filaments are preferably more than1700 N/mm², or more than 2000 N/mm² or even more 2600 N/mm², mostpreferably more than 3000 N/mm² or even more than 4000 N/mm². Thediameter of the filaments is less than 210 μm, preferably less than 160μm, most preferably less than 110 μm.

All filaments may have an identical diameter. Possible the diameter ofthe filaments may differ from each other. Preferably, the diameter ofthe filaments, providing an inner strand of the cable is larger than thediameter of the filaments, used to provide the outer strands or layer offilaments to the cable, which improves the penetration of the polymermaterial into the void spaces of the cable.

A steel cord, used to provide a cable as subject of the invention,comprises several steel elements, being transformed into a steel cord,using a steel cord construction. Due to the steel cord construction,void spaces are provided between the steel filaments of the steelelements of the cord. Also void spaces are provided between the steelelements. “Void space” as used hereafter is to be understood as all areaof a radial cross-section of the cord, located inwards of the imaginarycircle having as diameter the optical diameter of the cord, which areais not occupied by steel.

Steel cords have an inner layer or core, which is preferably a strand ofseveral steel filaments. Around such core, at least one layer ofadditional steel elements is provided. The steel elements of theadditional layer can either be steel filaments or steel strands, on itsturn comprising steel filaments. The outer layer of steel elements(either filaments or strands) is hereafter referred to as “jacketlayer”. The “jacket center circle” as used hereafter, is the imaginarycircle connecting the centers of the steel elements of the jacket layer.Various steel cord constructions may be used.

Examples here are:

-   -   multi-strand steel cords e.g. of the m×n type, i.e. steel cords,        comprising m strands with each n wires, such as 4×7×0.10,        7×7×0.18, 8×7×0.18 or 3×3×0.18; the last number is the diameter        of the wire, expressed in mm.    -   Multi-strand steel cords, comprising a core stand of l metal        filaments, and n strands of m metal filaments, surrounding the        core strand. These steel cords are hereafter referred to as        l+n×m type cords, such as 19+9×7 or 19+8×7 cords;    -   Warrington-type steel cords;    -   compact cords, e.g. of the 1×n type, i.e. steel cords comprising        n steel wires, n being greater than 8, twisted in only one        direction with one single step to a compact cross-section, such        as 1×9×0.18; the last number is the diameter of the wire,        expressed in mm.    -   layered steel cords e.g. of the l+m (+n) type, i.e. steel cords        with a core of l wires, surrounded by a layer of m wires, and        possibly also surrounded by another layer of n wires, such as        2+4×0.18; the last number is the diameter of the wire, expressed        in mm.

The steel composition is preferably a plain carbon steel composition,i.e. it generally comprises a minimum carbon content of 0.40% (e.g. atleast 0.60% or at least 0.80%, with a maximum of 1.1%), a manganesecontent ranging from 0.10 to 0.90% and a silicon content ranging from0.10 to 0.90%; the sulfur and phosphorous contents are each preferablykept below 0.03% ; additional micro-alloying elements such as chromium(up to 0.2 a 0.4%), boron, cobalt, nickel, vanadium . . . may be addedto the composition; stainless steel compositions are, however, notexcluded.

Such steel cords, without a polymer coating, usually have a permanentelongation at a load of 50 N, after being subjected to an elongationload of 450 N, which is substantially more than 0.05%. The more complexthe cord construction is, the larger the difference in permanentelongation becomes between a cable being such bare cord and a cable assubject of the invention using such cord.

Preferably, the polymer material is applied is such a way that at leasta part of the void space, present radial inwards of the jacket centercircle, is filled with polymer material. Most preferred, at least 10% oreven more than 15% of the void space radial inwards of the jacket centercircle is filled with polymer.

Preferably, a polymer material is provided around the steel cord in sucha way that the void spaces are filled for more than 30%, or even formore than 40% or 50%.

Even more preferred, polymer material is provided around the steel cordin such a way that the void spaces between adjacent steel elements aresubstantially filled with polymer material. Preferably more than 90%,most preferably even more than 95% or more than 99% of all void space isfilled with polymer material. The coating may be provided usingdifferent techniques such as extrusion, lamination or dipping.Preferably, the coating is provided via extrusion.

Best results as far as the limitation of the permanent elongation assubject of the invention are obtained, when thermoplastic elastomers(TPE) are used, such as styrene polymers (TES), polyurethane (PU) orpolyurethane copolymers, polyetheresters (TEEE), polyetheramide (PEBA),thermoplastic vulcanizates or silicone. Preferably, thermoplasticpolyurethane is used. Homopolymers of ester, ether or carbonatepolyurethane may be used, as well as copolymers or polymer blends.Possibly however, polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) may be used. Preferably,the polymer material has a shore D hardness varying between 60 and 100,preferably between 85 and 95. Alternatively, thermoset polymers may beused.

Possibly, plasticizers or other additives may be added to the polymermaterial, to improve its behaviors, such as e.g. lowering its frictioncoefficient, to improve the UV-resistance of the polymer material, toreduce the humidity absorption properties of the polymer material or toimprove the temperature stability in a larger temperature range of thepolymer material.

A preferred cable as subject of the invention has a polymer materialwhich is chemically anchored to the steel using appropriate coatings.Reference for possible coatings is made to WO0023505.

The thickness of the polymer material, being defined as the half of thedifference of the optical diameter between the coated and non-coatedsteel cord, is preferably less than 250 μm, most preferably less than200 μm or even less than 100 μm.

A cable as subject of the invention preferably is provided in such a waythat a radial cross section of such cable has a substantially circularshape. Alternatively, a radial cross-section of the cable has an outerprofile, which is substantially similar to the profile of a radialcross-section of the cord.

The diameter of the smallest circle encompassing this radial crosssection of the cable, being the optical diameter of the cable, ispreferably less than 3 mm, most preferably less than 2.75 mm, or evensmaller than 1.6 mm.

A cable as subject of the invention has several advantages over thepresent prior art.

A cable as subject of the invention has a very good resistance tocorrosion. Subjected to a salt spray test (ISO9227), such cables do notshow any corrosion after 600 hours. It was found that the conventionalcoatings, such as Zn-coatings which are applied to the steel cables usedin prior art, or the use of grease with corrosion protective additivesto improve the corrosion resistance, are no longer necessary to obtainacceptable levels of corrosion resistance. Notwithstanding this, thesteel cords used to provide a cable as subject of the invention, mayhave a coating such as yellow brass coatings, electrolytic galvanizedcoating or hot dip galvanized coating to improve the processability ofthe steel elements, steel strands and/or steel cord and to improve thepolymer coating process, e.g. the extrusion process.

At a load of 450 N, a cable as subject of the invention shows a limitedlevel of creep, being typically less than 0.005%. The elongation of thecable when being subjected to a load of 450 N is usually less than 0.6%,preferably less than 0.5% or even less than 0.4% or 0.3%.

Also the fatigue resistance is improved, and its flexibility issignificantly improved. This is clear from the “three-roller” test,where the products have a fatigue cycle of at least 2 times more, oreven up to 5 or 10 times more as compared with a life time of identicaluncoated cables. Fatigue life cycles of more than 8000 cycles, butusually and preferably more than 9000 or even more than 15000 and morethan 20000 cycles are obtained

The temperature resistance is also improved. The polymer coating,especially when a polyurethane coating is used, does not show adegradation of properties in the range of −40° C. to 90° C., and resistsexposures of at least one hour to temperatures above 90° C.

Conventional cables known in the prior art, may loose their oil orgrease due to the elevated temperatures, which result in highercorrosion or a decrease of friction properties. Since there is no oil orgrease needed, hardening of the cable due to hardening of the oil orgrease does not occur. The problem of oil or grease, attracting dust andsmall particles such as sand particles, and causing excessive wear ofparts and causing noise, is avoided.

A cable as subject of the invention further doesn't flare when cut intopieces to be used in the appropriate application. This allows easiermounting of the cable in the different systems, e.g. window elevatorsystems.

A cable as subject of the invention may be used for several purposes,such as window elevator systems, sunroof opening systems, cables to movesliding doors, seat adjustment systems, seat release cables, brake cablefor vehicles such as bicycles, scooters such as jet- or snowscooters,derailleur or shift lever cables for vehicles such as bicycles, jetskis,waterskis or scooters, cable for directing mirrors in vehicles, cablesfor adjusting or commanding gear systems of bicycles or other vehiclesand cables used to start small combustion engines. Cable as subject ofthe invention may also be used for control cable applications, static ordynamic applications, e.g. hoisting, timing belts, flat belts orV-belts.

Especially the corrosion resistance properties and the temperaturestability of the cables as subject of the invention provide a benefitover the known prior art. Further, since the cables provide a goodflexibility and higher fatigue resistance, the cables can be bent oversmaller guiding pieces in he transmission system in which it is used.Also the use of a polymer liner inside a casing, which is to be usedwhen using ordinary, non-coated cords, can be omitted. This results inless weight and a more simple construction of the transmission systemsin which the cable as subject of the invention is used.

Especially, a window elevator system comprising a cable as subject ofthe invention is provided according to the present invention.

A window elevator system as subject of the invention comprises aclamping system for holding a window, a rotating device (e.g. a motor ora manual rotating device), a cable as subject of the invention and atleast one guiding part, over which the cable is bend. The cable mayslide partially in a casing.

A window elevator system as subject of the invention has severaladvantages due to the use of a cable as subject of the invention.

The window elevator system provides a stable and reliable movement ofthe window. This is due to the low elongation at 50 N after being loadedto a level of 450 N.

The window elevator system is simplified and does not have to compriseas much elements as in prior art. An inner liner between casing andcable is not necessary, and the guiding part or parts may be reduced insize, having smaller bending radii.

Further the use of oil and/or grease may be reduced or avoided,meanwhile obtaining a very good resistance to corrosion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described into more detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings wherein

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a cable as subject of the invention

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an other cable as subject of theinvention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a window elevator system as subject of theinvention

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a radial cut of a cable as subject of theinvention sliding in a casing.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the three-roller-test.

FIG. 6 shows schematically an other cable as subject of the invention.

DECSRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention is provided in FIG. 1, being acable 11 as subject of the invention. The cable comprises a steel cord12, which on its turn comprises several steel filaments 13. The presentembodiment shows a steel cord “7×7×n” being seven strands 19, eachstrand having 7 steel elements 13 of diameter of n mm.

The steel cord has an optical cord diameter 14. The steel cord is coatedwith a polymer material 15, so providing a cable 11 as subject of theinvention with an optical cable diameter 16. The thickness 17 of thepolymer coating is half of the difference between optical cord diameterand optical cable diameter. As shown in FIG. 1, preferably the voidspace 18 between the different steel elements 13 is substantially filledwith polymer material 15.

Several embodiments where tested, as given in Table I. Such cableembodiments are coded as “7×7×n+PU”. Identical cables without coatingare were also tested and the results are incorporated in Table I as well(coded 7×7×n bare). All filaments had a tensile strength ofapproximately 2800 N/mm². The polymer used to coat the steel cords toprovide a cable as subject of the invention was polyurethane.

TABLE I Thickness Elongation in Permanent el. of polymer load range ofat 50 N, after Cord Optical Ø coating 50 N to 450 N Force at subjectionidentification steel cord (mm) (mm) (%) rupture (N) to 450 N (%) 7 × 7 ×0.15 1.35 0 0.328 2181 0.052 bare 7 × 7 × 0.15 1.35 0.075 0.298 22410.018 PU 7 × 7 × 0.12 1.05 0 0.440 1530 0.06 bare 7 × 7 × 0.12 1.050.075 0.413 1560 0.015 PU 7 × 7 × 0.10 0.9 0 0.617 1056 0.053 bare 7 × 7× 0.10 0.9 0.05 0.585 1044 0.017 PU

FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a cable 21 as subject of theinvention.

The cable comprises a steel cord 22, which on its turn comprise severalsteel filaments 23. The present embodiment shows a steel cord 22 being acore strand comprising nineteen steel filaments 23, around which eightstrands 29 of each time seven steel filaments 23 are twisted. The steelcord has an optical cord diameter 24. The steel cord is coated with apolymer material 25, so providing a cable 21 as subject of the inventionwith an optical cable diameter 26. The thickness 27 of the polymercoating is half of the difference between optical cord diameter andoptical cable diameter. As shown in FIG. 2, preferably the void space 28between the different steel elements 23 is substantially filled withpolymer material 25.

Test results of an embodiment are given in Table II, in which theembodiment is coded “steel cord +PU”. The diameter of all steel elementsis 0.1 mm. All filaments had a tensile strength of approximately 2800N/mm². The polymer used to coat the steel cords to provide a cable assubject of the invention was polyurethane. Identical cables withoutcoating were also tested and the results are incorporated in Table II aswell (coded “steel cord bare”).

TABLE II Thickness of Elongation Permanent el. Optical polymer in loadrange at 50 N, after Cord Ø steel coating of 50 N Force at subjectionidentification cord (mm) (mm) to 450 N (%) rupture (N) to 450 N (%) 19 +9 * 7 * 0.1 1.117 0 0.388 1956 0.082 bare 19 + 9 * 7 * 0.1 + 1.1170.0665 0.352 1973 0.021 PU

The above mentioned and described steel cords all were provided usingseveral steel elements, which have an equal diameter. To further improvethe degree of filling the void spaces between the elements, steel cordscomprising steel filaments, which have different diameters, may be used.

During coating of the steel cord, care was taken that the polymer hasfilled substantially all void space between the steel filaments of thecord, so polymer material is present at the void space radial inwards ofthe jacket center circle of the cord. Preferably more than 30% of allvoid space between the filaments is filled with polymer material. Evenmore preferred, more than 90% of all void space between the filaments isfilled with polymer material, most preferably more than 95% or even morethan 99% is filled with polymer material. In the above testedembodiments more than 99% of all void space was filled with PU.

All above given embodiments were subjected to a corrosion test accordingto ISO9227. After 600 h, no indication of corrosion was noticed.

All above given embodiments were subjected to a fatigue test, so called“three roller test”. This test provides data, giving significantinformation on the flexibility of the cable and the resistance toperiodical bending loads.

The test is schematically shown in FIG. 5. A cable 51 is clamped at oneend by means of a clamping device 52. The cable 51 is bend around threerollers (53, 54 and 55), which are mounted rotationally on a metal piece56. The other end of the cable is loaded with a force by means of aweight 57. The three rollers 53, 54 and 55 are mounted on the metalpiece 56 in such a way that they are located at the corners of anisosceles triangle 58, which has its hypotenuse parallel with theimaginary connection line between clamping device 52 and bending point59. The lower points of the rollers 53 and 55, are also points of thisimaginary connection line between clamping device 52 and bending point59.

The rollers 53, 54 and 55 have a diameter D of 20.3 mm. The length ofthe hypotenuse (L) is 62.1 mm and the height of the triangle (H) is 12.5mm. The weight 57 is chosen to provide a force of 150 N.

The cable, mounted on this testing device, is subjected to a fatiguetest by moving the metal piece 56 fore and backwards, in the directionof the imaginary connection line between clamping device 52 and bendingpoint 59, over a certain length A, being 90 mm. Such movement is donecyclically, with a frequency which is set to 230 movements per minute.In such a way, the cable is cyclically subjected to a bending action.The number of movements is counted before the cable breaks. Results ofthe tests, done on the cables as described in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 areshown in Table III.

TABLE III Cycles up to breaking sample bare PU 7 × 7 × 0.12 bare 14998724 7 × 7 × 0.12 bare 693 10731 7 × 7 × 0.10 bare 1168 18062 19 + 9 *7 * 0.1 bare 2885 24338

The cables as subject of the invention may be used in a window elevatorsystem 300 of which an example is shown in FIG. 3. Such window elevatorsystem 300 comprises clamping elements 302 which hold the window 301.The clamping elements-302 are mounted to the cable 304 as subject of theinvention. This cable 304 transfers the rotating movement of therotating device 303 to a lifting (up or down) of the window 301. Certainparts of the cable may move (slide) inside a casing 305. Where the cableis to be bend over a curve with relatively short bending radius, guidingparts such as fixed elements 306 or wheels 307 may be used, which are onits turn mounted on a fixing element 308.

The use of a cable as subject of the invention has several advantages.The cable is pretensioned over the guiding elements 306 and 307, sinceotherwise the cable will run of these guiding element when the cable isused to transfer the rotating movement of the driving drum to adisplacement of the glass. When the permanent elongation is too largehowever, the level of pretentioning may decrease, since the cableelongates, which on its turn may cause disfunctioning of the wholesystem. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, which is a cut over the plane AA′,in case a cable in a casing is used, there is no risk of metal-metalcontact between the steel cord 41 of the cable 42 and the metal innersurface 43 of the casing 44, being a metal reinforcing structure 45,coated externally with a polymer layer 46. A polymer inner liner betweencasing and cable is no longer necessary.

This also is applicable when the cable as subject of the invention isused for other purposes, in which a cable is to move inside a casing,such as for the closing of the breaks in scooters and bicycles. The samecables as subject of the invention can be used for control cableapplications, static or dynamic applications, e.g. hoisting, timingbelts, flat belts or V-belts, cables used in elevator door systemsmirror cables, brake cables, hood and trunk release cables.

An other cable as subject of the invention is shown in FIG. 6. The cable60 has a steel cord comprising a core strand 61 of steel filaments,encompassed with a jacket layer of 6 strands of each 7 steel filaments.The cord is substantially identical as the one shown in FIG. 1. Thesteel cord is provided with a polymer layer 63 which is this embodimentdoes not have a circular cross section, but which essentially has thesame outer profile as the cord used. Alternatively, other profiles mayalso be obtained. The cable optical diameter is indicated 67, whereasthe cord optical diameter is indicated 66. It is clearly shown that thepolymer material 63 is present in the void spaces 64 of the cord,radially inwards of the jacked layer circle, indicated 68. Preferably atleast 30% of the void space is filled with polymer. Most preferredPolyurethane is used as polymer material. Care is taken to obtain achemical bondbetween the steel and polymer material.

1. A cable, comprising: a steel cord comprising an outer jacket layerhaving a jacket center circle, and a thermoplastic material having ashore D hardness between 60 and 100, wherein said steel cord has anoptical diameter less than 2.5 mm, said steel cord being coated withsaid thermoplastic material, at least part of said thermoplasticmaterial being provided radially inwards of said jacket center circle,said thermoplastic material being chemically anchored through anintercalated bi-functional adhesion promoter to said steel cord, andsaid cable has a permanent elongation of less than 0.05% at a permanentforce of 50 N after being subjected to a force of 450 N.
 2. A cable asclaimed in claim 1, said steel cord comprising at least two steelelements, said steel cord having void space between said steel elements,said thermoplastic material filling more than 30% of said void space. 3.A cable as claimed in claim 1, said cable having an optical diameter ofless than 3 mm.
 4. A cable as claimed in claim 1, said steel cord havinga breaking load of less than 3150 N.
 5. A cable as claimed in claim 1,said cord having an optical diameter of less than 2 mm.
 6. A cable asclaimed in claim 1, said thermoplastic material being a thermoplasticelastomer.
 7. A cable as claimed in claim 6, said thermoplasticelastomer being polyurethane.
 8. A cable as claimed in claim 1, saidthermoplastic material being a thermoset polymer.
 9. A cable as claimedin claim 1, said cable having a substantially circular radial crosssection.
 10. A cable as claimed in claim 1, said cable having anelongation of less than 0.6% when being subjected to a force of 450 N.11. A window elevator system, comprising a cable as claimed in claim 1.12. A control cable, comprising a cable as claimed in claim
 1. 13. Acable as claimed in claim 1, said cord having an optical diameter ofless than 2.00 mm.
 14. A window elevator system, comprising: the cableaccording to claim 1, a clamping system, a rotating device, at least oneguiding part, wherein said cable is bent around guiding elements.
 15. Awindow elevator system, comprising: the cable according to claim 1, aclamping system, a rotating device, at least one guiding part, whereinsaid cable is bent around guiding elements, and wherein said windowelevator system further comprises a casting.
 16. A cable as claimed inclaim 1, said cable being a control cable.
 17. A cable as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the thermoplastic material is a material selected fromthe group consisting of styrene polymers, polyurethane copolymers,polyurethane copolymers, poly ether esters and poly ether amides.
 18. Acable as claimed in claim 1, said cable being free of lubricants.
 19. Awindow elevator system, comprising: a clamping system, a rotatingdevice, at least one guiding part, and a cable, said cable being bentaround guiding elements, wherein said cable comprises a steel cordcomprising an outer jacket layer having a jacket center circle, and athermoplastic material having a shore D hardness between 60 and 100,wherein said steel cord has a diameter less than 2.5 mm, said steel cordbeing coated with said thermoplastic material, at least part of saidthermoplastic material being provided radially inwards of said jacketcenter circle, said thermoplastic material being chemically anchoredthrough an intercalated bi-functional adhesion promoter to said steelcord, and wherein said cable has a permanent elongation of less than0.05% at a permanent force of 50 N after being subjected to a force of450 N.
 20. A window elevator system as claimed in claim 19, said windowelevator system further comprising a casing.
 21. A window elevatorsystem as claimed in claim 19, wherein the thermoplastic material is amaterial selected from the group consisting of styrene polymers,polyurethane, polyurethane copolymers, poly ether esters and poly etheramides.
 22. A window elevator system as claimed in claim 19, said cablebeing free of lubricants.